The WITI@UC Athena Awards recognize those who embody, encourage, and promote the inclusion of women in technology. Awardees will be leaders who inspire others to pursue and persist in technical careers by way of their outstanding contributions, and their service and mentorship to foster inclusion in the field.

The deadline for nominations has passed (Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 5:00pm PT)

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Executive Leadership Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership by supporting the professional development and promotion of women in technology within their companies, organizations or the field at large.

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Selection Criteria:

Award winners may be recognized for a wide variety of accomplishments, including:

Demonstrating leadership in promoting greater diversity and inclusion in the field or sector

Expanding opportunities for engaging women in technology

Demonstrating impact on advancing women’s professional achievements in technology

Nominees typically have at least 10 years of experience in their executive leadership role(s)

ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Academic Leadership Award recognizes senior leaders in academia or national labs who have a demonstrated record of accomplishment and have encouraged or mentored young scholars or colleagues.

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Selection Criteria:

Award winners may be recognized for a wide variety of accomplishments, including:

Undertaking technically innovative work

Demonstrating leadership in their field

Expanding opportunities for engaging girls in technology and computer science

Priority consideration will be given to those who have been active professionally for 5 years or less

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes women leaders in industry, academia, or the public sector who have undertaken technically innovative work and who have made significant contributions to promoting greater diversity and inclusion of women in the tech sector.

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Selection Criteria:

Award winners may be recognized for a wide variety of accomplishments, including:

Undertaking technically innovative work

Demonstrating leadership in promoting greater diversity and inclusion in the field or sector

Expanding opportunities for engaging women in technology and computer science

Demonstrating impact on advancing women’s professional achievements in technology and computer science

Nominees typically have at least 20 years of experience in this capacity

NEXT GENERATION ENGAGEMENT AWARD

The Next Generation Engagement Award recognizes organizations or programs that encourage girls or young women to pursue interests in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

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Selection Criteria:

Award winners may be recognized for a wide variety of accomplishments, including:

Expanding extracurricular opportunities for girls and young women to explore technology and computer science

Demonstrating support for young women undertaking college-level, graduate or postgraduate studies in technology and computer science

Supporting and highlighting accomplishments of women and girls in tech

Awards will include travel support to attend the Women in Tech Symposium on November 30, 2017, at the UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Campus in Santa Clara, California, where awards and cash prizes will be presented.

DESCRIPTION

Women in Tech: A Symposium on Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Demonstrated benefits of a diverse leadership team and workforce include more robust market insights, improved strategic decisions and increased financial success. Yet from tech accelerators and startup companies to venture capital firms and established industries, female technologists, founders and investors often struggle to marshal support for their ideas. In 2016, companies led by men received 16 times the funding of those run by women, a statistic perhaps influenced by the fact that only 7% of partners at top VC firms are women. How can recent research and inspiring role models contribute to positive momentum for women in technical fields, startup companies, and venture firms?

This public half-day symposium will highlight the experience of women in the tech industry–from established companies to startups and the venture capital firms that support them. The event will also recognize those who have championed the advancement of women in technology through the WITI@UC Athena Awards. Attendees will come away with actionable suggestions for overcoming gender-based challenges and improving the workplace climate for all. The agenda will offer time for presentations as well as informal discussion to build networks for mentoring and peer support.

Who should attend? Entrepreneurs, investors, students, and leaders from academia or the public and private sectors interested in supporting a more diverse ecosystem for innovation and creating a welcoming environment for new ideas across the spectrum. We welcome the participation of women and their allies.